Amphibians Guidelines for the Breeding, Care and Management of Laboratory Animals (1974) / Chapter Skim
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V Physical Facilities
V Physical Facilities
Pages 46-74
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From page 46... ...
The first choice is to provide a laboratory habitat that is, in as many particulars as possible, a close mimic of the natural habitat. The second is to develop a laboratory habitat in which the animals live and which is at the same time compatible with the laboratory environment, minimizes labor and material costs, and may be managed on the basis of principles already familiar to animal husbandry personnel.
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From page 47... ...
The high hunudity of amphibian quarters and the optimal temperatures for these ectotherms are not usually compatible with the requirements for endotherms. The work area requirements for an amphibian unit remain the same regardless of the size of the unit.
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From page 48... ...
This includes rooms for adult and larval amphibians and for insect culture; the size of each will depend on the size and objectives of the animal colony. To facilitate servicing, however, these should be at least "walk-in" size.
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From page 49... ...
d. General Specifications Other specifications for the amphibian quarters include hot and cold water.
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From page 50... ...
Water The water supply is most critical to a successful amphibian colony. For aquatic forms, e.g., anuran larvae and the aquatic urodeles, the requirements for water quality are as critical as those for fish; for the terrestrial and semiterrestrial juvenile and adult forms, water remains an important component of the environment.
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From page 51... ...
In view of these qualitative and quantitative differences between water supplies, the quality and flow rates of water should be monitored and the water treated to ensure qualitative acceptability. In planning the water supply, care should be taken to ensure its quality with respect to: Alkalinity and hardness as CaCO3 Ammonia and other nitrogen compounds Carbon dioxide Chlorine Fluorides Heavy metals Microorganisms Oxygen pH Polychlorinated biphenyls (PC B)
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From page 52... ...
Values for these compounds should not exceed 0.3 mg/liter as nitrogen; in the presence of phosphorus and wide spectrum lights algae growth, which may clog water pipes, will be promoted. Although problems with these compounds occur most frequently in recirculating systems, they will also occur in those areas where public water supplies are high in nitrates.
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From page 53... ...
Close attention to chlorine levels is needed as chlorine in public water supplies often will exceed lethal tolerance limits for aquatic amphibians. Aquatic Water supplied to aquatic, gill~breathing larvae and adults or to hibernating or skin-breathing adult amphibians must be free of chlorine.
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From page 54... ...
Copper chloride at 9 mg/liter has been reported as toxic to fish. Thus, copper water lines should be avoided; if this is not possible, water flowing through them should be closely monitored (see below)
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From page 55... ...
Since the oxygen requirements for aquatic stages of amphibian species have been poorly documented, the oxygen requirements for fish should be followed. For warm water fish, oxygen levels should not fall below 5 mg/liter and for cold water fish, 8 mg/liter.
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From page 56... ...
(10) Polychlonnated Biphenyls {PCBJ and Other Toxicants Mom Plastics The ease and favorable cost of plastic piping, containers, and instruments recommend their use in many applications in amphibian quarters.
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From page 57... ...
However, since the optimal temperature for different species or the same species at different stages of development or geographical locations varies, sufficient flexibility should be built into the water systems to permit regulation over the temperature ranges described below. Unless the volume and flow rate of water and the insulation of animal containers are sufficient to prevent the water temperature from reflecting the air temperatures, air conditioning will be required.
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From page 58... ...
and Reid (1961) amphibians hibernating under ice are unlikely to be exposed to wide spectrum lighting, particularly if water depths are greater than 1 m (3.3 ft)
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From page 59... ...
The labor is needed to control the flow system, ensuring that water is maintained at high quality, pressure is maintained at a constant level, and feed and drip lines are free of stoppages. The disadvantages are that water quality or flow rate may change drastically at night or on weekends, which could result in heavy animal losses, and that, if the water flow is too rapid, the animals do not have the opportunity to "condition" their environment.
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From page 60... ...
Enclosures suited to these several systems of water supply may be fabricated from several materials, each having advantages and disadvantages (Table 7~. The choice among these materials is ultimately dependent on the water system and enclosure design most suited to the circumstances and objectives of the amphibian quarters.
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From page 61... ...
When static water is used, it should be changed three or four times per week or more frequently to keep bacterial counts below toxic levels isee Section B.2.a(7~]
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From page 62... ...
The following are important criteria that must be met in housing design: water flow patterns, ease of cleaning, accessibility for servicing and for identifying and handling individual animals, security regarding both amphibian and "food" escape, safety regarding potential injury to either the amphibians or personnel, efficient space utilization, modular design to permit flexibility of colony size, and acquisition and maintenance cost reduction. Evaluations of facilities for amphibians should include consideration of each of these animal- and facility-oriented desiderata (see Section C.6~.
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From page 63... ...
This water must be chlorine free and should be changed approximately once a week or three times in 2 weeks using prechilled water. The water-changing schedule should be designed to reduce agitation of the animals and yet maintain bacterial counts below toxic levels isee Section B.2.a(7~]
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From page 64... ...
6. Enclosure Designs In the absence of definitive standards for amphibian enclosures, this section describes several aspects of the housing systems now in use.
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From page 65... ...
Each combined enclosure contains water in the opaque portion to a depth appropriate to the behavior of the amphibian species it contains. An opening in the floor of the transparent component allows frogs to move between the aquatic environment and the terrestrial environment of the transparent component.
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From page 67... ...
They are washed free of packing material and placed in the hibernation enclosure in water at room temperature. The capacity of the enclosure ensures that the water temperature does not drop to hibernation temperature faster than the anunals can adjust to it.
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From page 68... ...
Rearing enclosures, fabricated from 1.22 m (4 ft) diameter round or oval galvanized cattle watering tanks coated with epoxy paint, can be used to house up to 100 juvenile frogs with a 76.2-mm (3 in.)
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From page 69... ...
When the hose (f) is lifted to rapidly drain the enclosure, this sleeve forms a barrier preventing juvenile frogs, carried in the water flow, from passing through the drain or, if large enough, from clogging its opening; (h)
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From page 70... ...
a heavy plastic screen weighted down by a sealed ring of plastic tubing filled with "shot" keeps the frogs from occluding the drain and forms a reservoir for debris; (a) a 15-mm-diameter stiff plastic tube extends to a point just above the screen; (f)
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From page 71... ...
In place of cattle watering tanks, circular enclosures 6.1 m (20 It) in diameter with 0.75-0.90-m (30-36 in.)
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From page 72... ...
d. The Aquatic Animal Facility of Arizona State University The stainless steel housing system for anurans and urodeles of the Aquatic Animal Facility of Arizona State University utilizes recirculating water filtered through dacron and passed under germicidal lamps.
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From page 73... ...
Perforated stainless steel baskets inserted in these tanks serve as enclosures for the aquatic animals.
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From page 74... ...
-a ~_: ! ~ :,' ~.~"~'~ "A I_ ~ ''' In' `_ ` ~ ~ ~X'~':~ ~" ~ ~:47; ~^ ,, FIGURE 22 Interior of an adult holding tank.
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